prosecute

  • 1prosecute — pros·e·cute / prä si ˌkyüt/ vb cut·ed, cut·ing [Latin prosecutus, past participle of prosequi to pursue] vt 1: to institute and carry forward legal action against for redress or esp. punishment of a crime 2: to institute and carry on a lawsuit… …

    Law dictionary

  • 2Prosecute — Pros e*cute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Prosecuted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Prosecuting}.] [L. prosecutus, p. p. of prosequi to follow, pursue. See {Pursue}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To follow or pursue with a view to reach, execute, or accomplish; to endeavor to… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3prosecute — pros‧e‧cute [ˈprɒsɪkjuːt ǁ ˈprɑː ] verb [intransitive, transitive] LAW 1. if the state authorities prosecute someone, they officially say that person must be judged by a court of law for a particular crime: • Shoplifters (= people who steal… …

    Financial and business terms

  • 4prosecute — [präs′ə kyo͞ot΄] vt. prosecuted, prosecuting [ME prosecuten < L prosecutus, pp. of prosequi < pro , PRO 2 + sequi, to follow: see SEQUENT] 1. to follow up or pursue (something) to a conclusion [to prosecute a war with vigor] 2. to carry on; …

    English World dictionary

  • 5Prosecute — Pros e*cute, v. i. 1. To follow after. [Obs.] Latimer. [1913 Webster] 2. (Law) To institute and carry on a legal prosecution; as, to prosecute for public offenses. Blackstone. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6prosecute — [v1] bring action against in court arraign, bring suit, bring to trial, contest, do, haul into court*, indict, involve in litigation, law, litigate, prefer charges, pull up, put away*, put on docket, put on trial, see in court*, seek redress, sue …

    New thesaurus

  • 7prosecute — early 15c., follow up, pursue (some course or action), from L. prosecutus, pp. of prosequi follow after (see PURSUE (Cf. pursue)). Meaning bring to a court of law is first recorded 1570s. Prosecutor in legal sense is attested from 1660s;… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 8prosecute — ► VERB 1) institute legal proceedings against (someone) or with reference to (a crime). 2) continue (a course of action) with a view to completion. 3) archaic carry on (a trade or pursuit). DERIVATIVES prosecutable adjective. ORIGIN Latin… …

    English terms dictionary

  • 9prosecute — v. 1) to prosecute vigorously 2) (D; tr.) to prosecute for (to prosecute smb. for murder) * * * [ prɒsɪkjuːt] to prosecute vigorously (D;tr.) to prosecute for (to prosecute smb. for murder) …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 10prosecute */ — UK [ˈprɒsɪˌkjuːt] / US [ˈprɑsɪˌkjut] verb Word forms prosecute : present tense I/you/we/they prosecute he/she/it prosecutes present participle prosecuting past tense prosecuted past participle prosecuted 1) [intransitive/transitive] to officially …

    English dictionary